Clinton hopes to hug it out with the president

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EDGARTOWN, Mass.—There doesn’t appear to be an apology, but there may be a hug.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she hopes that she and President Barack Obama can hug it out like friends at a Martha’s Vineyard soiree today—her attempt to make up for dissing Mr. Obama’s foreign policy in a magazine interview this week.

Ms. Clinton ripped Mr. Obama’s Syria strategy and dismissed his one-time foreign policy catchphrase as small bore. The interview caused some poorly timed tension between Ms. Clinton and her former boss, because the two were scheduled to cross paths on the small island where Mr. Obama is vacationing and Ms. Clinton is slated to attend a book signing today.

A Clinton spokesman issued a statement Tuesday saying Ms. Clinton called the president to explain her comments. “Earlier today, the secretary called President Obama to make sure he knows that nothing she said was an attempt to attack him, his policies or his leadership,” spokesman Nick Merrill said. “Secretary Clinton has at every step of the way touted the significant achievements of his presidency, which she is honored to have been part of as his secretary of State.”

Mr. Merrill said Ms. Clinton was “proud to be his partner” and “shared his deep commitment to a smart and principled foreign policy.” He did not say she was sorry for the comments.

The statement also stood by “honest differences” over Syria and blamed others for “choosing to hype” those differences. And if that didn’t salve the criticism of his policy—“Great nations need organizing principles, and ‘Don’t do stupid stuff’ is not an organizing principle,” Ms. Clinton had said before defending Mr. Obama—it would have to do.

“Like any two friends who have to deal with the public eye, she looks forward to hugging it out when they see each other,” Mr. Merrill said.

Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama are slated to attend a private reception at the home of Vernon Jordan, a former adviser to former President Bill Clinton.